Threading your serger can be a hastle. It is so much more complicated than a ordinary sewing machine. Instead of having one spool of thread, you might have as many as eight different threads working all at once.
Since the introduction of the home serger, users have complained about just how hard it is to thread. With multiple threads, needles, and strange looking gismos, it not only looks complicated, it is. It not only feels like you have to twist and turn just to thread it, it does.
A thread rack rises above the thread cones to guide the thread off the cones. Then the thread is fed through guides, around tension assemblies, and eventually to the looper or needle being threaded. Watch out for tangled threads.
Like in a ordinarysewing machine, the needles on a serger are used to draw the thread through the fabric. Once the needles reach their lowest position and begin to rise, a thread loop forms. The lower looper moves right to pick up the needle threads. Then the upper looper moves left picking up the needle threads and lower looper threads drawing them around the stitch finger. All of this produces a wrap around the edge of the fabric known as an over lock stitch.
Unfortunately, when a serging machine is not properly threaded, the stitches are messed up or possibly ruined completely. There are a multitude of techniques to improperly thread a serging machine, but only one right way to thread a serging machine.
Elna, Brother, Viking, Bernette, Necchi, and many other brands of sergers are available today. There are many configurations and models, but generally there is strong similarity in their threading.
Here are the key instructions. First, lift the presser foot. To threada serging machine starts at the thread spool. Each cone of thread must be correctly set on its spool pin. Bring the thread up and over the thread rack. Pull the thread through each and every thread guide exactly as indicated in your users manual. Caution: threads often get caught on uneven spots along the thread line. Double check that the thread flows freely off the spool and through the various guides.
The same technique used to thread a ordinary sewing machine is used to thread the tension assemblies on a serger. The biggest difference is that there are several to thread. Traditional sergers used individually surface mounted tensions, but some sergers today encase the actual tension assembly in the front serger cover. In the latter case, you will see a groove for the thread and a dial for adjustment. It is vital that the thread slide between the tension discs on the tension assembly.
Serger tension is a common source of problems. Not only is it essential to properly seat the thread between the two round tension discs, the tension must balance with multiple threads.
Lifting the presser foot before you start thread, releases the pressure on the tension assemblies making it easy to thread them. Make sure each thread is drawn through the tension discs and held firmly in position. If the presser foot is down, the thread (can|may|will travel along the edgeof the tension discs instead of flowing through them properly. The solution is: raise the presser foot lever when you begin threading, and keep it up until you thread the needle.
Proceed with threading the remaining thread guides and thread the upper looper. This can be a bit of challenge requiring tweezers and the ability to stand on your head in some cases. Then thread the lower looper followed by the needles.
Needles are the last things threaded. To do so make sure to thread all of the guides and take up lever leading to the needles. Since there are often more than one needle, it can be awkward to thread them without use of tweezers of serger needle threader.
When you complete the threading process, examine the thread lines for any irregularities. Examine the tensions by tugging a bit on each thread first with the presser foot up and then with it down. There should be very little friction when it is up, and significant friction when it is down.
Since threading sergers is such as hastle, here is one tip than can save loads of time and frustration. While it is necessary to rethread the entire machine when a thread breaks, you can change out cones of thread by tying off the old thread and new thread. Use as small a knot as possible, and then gently move the threads through the serger. You can pull individual threads or the whole set of threads may be advanced by turning the hand wheel or running the motor.
Properly threaded sergers produce chain stitches, however, any errors in threading will result in faulty stitches and broken threads. After you thread the serger, go back and double check the entire thread line making sure that the thread is properly positioned. Look for any snags,wrapping, or twists in the thread. If you find errors, rethread in proper order until the threading is perfect.
There is an exception to this threading system in the advanced jet air threading system of the Baby Lock sewing machine. Baby Lock originated the home serger in 1964 and has led the market with advances and features unparalleled by any other brand. The Baby Lock Imagine and Evolve sergers use an advanced devices that thread the serger by a simple press of a lever. They use an advance thread management system that makes traditional tensions obsolete. They may also be threaded in any order. If a thread breaks, it is unnecessary to rethread the machine.
Originally posted 2009-03-27 05:31:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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